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    The Characteristics of Modern-Day Khawrij as Told by the Rulings of Modern-Day Scholars

    Original Title:

    Author: Various Scholars

    The Characteristics of Modern-Day Khawrij as Told bythe Rulings of Modern-Day Scholars

    1

    Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2

    Religiously Opposing and Revolting against the Leaders and RenouncingAllegiance and Obedience to Them...................................................................... 3Abd al-Azz Ibn Bz ................................................................................................. 4Muammad Nir al-Dn al-Albn............................................................................ 6

    Making Takfr of Perpetrators of Major Sins .................................................................. 7Abd al-Azz Ibn Bz ................................................................................................. 7

    Inciting People to Oppose Governments by Announcing their Faults, CriticizingThem, and Demonstrating against Them........................................................... 10Abd al-Azz Ibn Bz ............................................................................................... 11Muammad Ibn lial-Uthaymn ......................................................................... 14lial-Fawzn ....................................................................................................... 15

    Making Takfr of Whoever Does Not Absolutely Judge or Rule with AllahsRevelation .............................................................................................................. 18Abd al-Azz Ibn Bz ............................................................................................... 18

    Muammad Ibn lial-Uthaymn ......................................................................... 19

    Making Takfr of the Ruler, Claiming He Has Abandoned and Terminated Jihd.... 20

    lial-Fawzn ....................................................................................................... 20

    Bombings ......................................................................................................................... 20

    Muammad Ibn lial-Uthaymn ......................................................................... 20

    Legitimizing the Murdering of Security Officers.......................................................... 21

    lial-Fawzn ....................................................................................................... 21

    Their Claim that the Muslim Leader is Only He Whom All Muslims throughoutthe World, from the East to the West, Unite in Allegiance to Him................... 22

    lial-Fawzn ....................................................................................................... 22

    1 This article is a compilation of quotes from contemporary scholars. The Arabic text can be found

    at: http://fatwa1.com/anti-erhab/Irhabion/khwarjalasar.html.

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    Likewise, when the Khawrij became people of weaponry and fighting, their

    opposition and aggression towards the mainstream community was made

    manifest as they began fighting people. As for today, most people do not even

    know of them.

    The Khawrij have certain distinguishing characteristics they are known by. However, it is

    necessary to know that some of these characteristics are only discovered by keeping up-

    to-date with them, studying them and from the speech of scholars. And it may not be the

    case that they always exhibit every single attribute commonly mentioned about them. Ibn

    Taymiyyah said in Majm al-Fatw(49/13), We only came to know of the statements

    and views of the Khawrij by people passing information down over time about them. We

    did not simply stop at a single published book (about them).

    A scholar or researcher will f ind that the state and circumstances surrounding the former

    Khawrij, even though they were all united upon the same misguidance, were difficult

    and unclear for some people to discern during their time. So what about people who

    outwardly portray affiliation to the Sunnah (Prophet Muhammads methodology,

    statements, actions, etc.) during these modern times while they are actually the Khawrij

    whether they know it or not?

    Presented to you, noble brother, are some of their more distinguishing characteristics as

    derived from the rulings of modern-day scholars.

    Religiously Opposing and Revolting against the Leaders and Renouncing

    Allegiance and Obedience to Them

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    The eminent scholar, Abd al-Azz Ibn Bz, was asked:

    Question: Some brothers may Allah guide them do not consider it an obligation to

    give allegiance and obedience to the leader in these lands. So what is your advice,

    eminent father?

    Answer: We advise the public to be peaceful and calm and to listen to and obey (the

    authority) as has been mentioned before. And we warn them from sowing dissension and

    revolting against the leaders (rulers, kings, presidents, etc) because that is one of the

    greatest crimes. This is the religion of the Khawrij. This is the religion of the Khawrij

    and the Mutazilah revolting against the leaders and renouncing obedience to them

    when they enjoin that which is not sinful. This is incorrect and contradictory to what the

    prophet ( ) instructed to do. The prophet ( ) commanded to

    listen and obey in anything that is good (not sinful), he said:

    .

    Whoever sees from his leader something of a sin against Allah, then let him

    dislike whatever is sinful to Allah, but he should certainly not retract even a hand-

    span away from obedience.

    And he ( :) said

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    .

    Whoever comes to you while you are united and he wants to divide your

    allegiance and disunite your unified community, then strike his neck.

    So it is impermissible for anyone to cause dissension and mutiny or revolt against the

    leaders or even call to that. This is one of the greatest crimes and one of the greatest

    means to evil and tribulations and causes of enmity among people. Whoever calls to this,

    this is the religion of the Khawrij and the dissidents. Capital punishment should be

    carried out against such a person because he is dividing the people and inciting rebellion.

    It is an obligation for people to be extremely cautious and warn against this. And it is an

    obligation for the leaders, when they know of anyone calling to or propagating this idea,

    that they strongly prevent him and arrest him so that tribulations and evil are prevented.3

    And he (Ibn Bz)may Allah have mercy on him said:

    And in this country, by the grace of Allah, nothing really occurs or originates from it (the

    government) that would necessitate revolting against it. And those who consider it

    permissible to commit this sin of rebelling against the government, they are only the

    Khawrij. They are those who declare Muslims to be disbelievers just for making sins and

    they fight and kill the people of Islam while ignoring the people of idol-worship. The

    prophet (

    ) said about them:

    .

    3Taken from a cassette titled: ukm al-amalt al-Ilmiyyah al Bild al-aramayn.

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    They will go through and out of the religion just as an arrow goes through a

    target.

    And he said:

    .

    Wherever you meet them, fight and kill them, for in killing them there is a reward

    with Allah on the Day of Resurrection for whoever does so.

    [al-Bukhr and Muslim]

    There are many well-known adth(statements of the prophet) about them.4

    The famous scholar of adth in these times, Muammad Nir al-Din al-Albn, said

    explaining the narration in which a companion said, We gave the pledge to Allahs

    messenger ( ( that we would listen and obey after he refuted the

    Khawrij, he said:

    What is meant is that they (the Khawrij) introduced an evil methodology in Islam, and

    they made rebellion against Muslim governments a religious fundamental throughout

    time. They did this despite the prophet ( ) explicitly warning against them

    in many adth, from them is his ( :) statement

    .

    The Khawrij are the dogs of Hell.

    4Taken from the book Majm al-Fatw(4/91) of Abd al-Azz Ibn Bz.

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    And (they also persist in their crimes) despite the fact that they have not witnessed clear,

    explicit disbelief from their leaders; anything less than that may be oppression and sin

    (but not disbelief). History repeats itself as they say, because today some of the Muslim

    youth have begun to germinate and sprout, not having understood the religion except a

    little. They consider that the governments do not rule by what Allah has revealed except

    seldom. So they believe in inciting rebellion against them, having never consulted with

    the people of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Instead, they stubbornly and

    recklessly instigate tribulations and bloodshed in places like Egypt, Syria, Algeria, and

    even before at the sacred mosque in Mecca. By all this, they contradict authentic adth

    that the actions of Muslims have always been based upon past and present, except by

    the Khawrij.5

    Making Takfr of Perpetrators of Major Sins

    The scholar Ibn Bz - may Allah have mercy on himwas asked:

    Question: Noble father, we know that this speech (of yours) represents one of the

    fundamentals of the people of Sunnah and the unified community of Muslims. But

    unfortunately, there are some youth affiliated with the people of Sunnah and the

    community who think that such speech represents a defeatist attitude and has within it

    weakness; this has been said. And for this reason, such people call the youth to adopt a

    path of rigidity and harshness when trying to change (their circumstances).

    5See al-Silsilah al-aahby al-Albn (vol. 7, section 2, pgs. 1240-1243).

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    Answer: This is wrong whoever says it. He comprehends very little because he has

    neither known nor understood the Sunnah as it should be. But their fiery enthusiasm and

    zeal to remove evils has driven them to contradict the Islamic legislation just as the

    Khawrij and Mutazilah did. Their desire to make truth victorious or their zeal to defend it

    caused them to fall into falsehood so much so that they began declaring Muslims to be

    disbelievers just for committing sins as the Khawrij did, or they declare them to be

    eternal dwellers of the Fire because of their sins just as the Mutazilah do.

    The Khawrij made Takfr(excommunication: declaring a believer to be a disbeliever) of

    people for committing sins and believed that all sinners were doomed to the Fire forever.

    The Mutazilah held the same opinion regarding sinners final punishment in that they will

    remain in the Fire forever. However, they said a sinner is in this life between two states

    (disbelief and belief). All of it is misguidance and deviation.

    The true understanding that the people of Sunnah have is that a sinner is not to be

    considered a disbeliever just because of his sin as long as he does not hold his crime to

    be permissible. So if a person, for example, commits adultery, he is not a disbeliever; if

    he steals, he is not a disbeliever; or if he drinks alcohol, he is not a disbeliever. Rather,

    he is then a sinner with weak faith and the appropriate law should be applied to him. He

    is not to be considered a disbeliever unless he clearly believes his actions to be

    permissible (in the sight of Allah) and openly says, This is permissible. And what the

    Khawrij say is misguidance and distortion, and their Takfr of people is incorrect. The

    prophet ( :) said about them

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    .

    They will certainly go through and out of the religion like an arrow goes through

    its target, and they will not return to it. They fight the people of Islam while

    ignoring the people of idolatry.

    This is the state of the Khawrij because of their extremism, ignorance, and their

    misguidance. So it is not fitting for the youth or anyone else to imitate and blindly follow

    the Khawrij and the Mutazilah. They must instead keep to the methodology of the

    people of Sunnah and the mainstream body of Muslims just as the legislative evidences

    dictate; they leave the meaning of the texts as they have come. These people are not

    allowed to revolt against the authority or leader just because of a sin or even a number of

    sins he may have committed. Rather, they should sincerely advise by writing or meetings

    in a nice and wise manner. They could debate and contend in a respectful way until they

    succeed (in making a change) or until the evil is removed or at least lessened and that

    which is better comes about.

    That is how the texts have explained the approach of Allahs messenger (

    ). Allah ( ) says:

    It was only by a mercy from Allah that you were lenient with them. And if

    you had been discourteous and harsh-hearted, they would have fled from

    you.

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    [Srahli-Imrn, 3:159]

    So it is necessary for those eager to do something for Allah and for the callers to

    guidance and preachers that they be cautious of going beyond the limits of the Islamic

    legislation. They should offer sincere advice to those whom Allah has placed in authority

    over them with kind words, wisdom, and in a respectful manner until the evil decreases

    and good prevails. They take this approach so that sincere callers to Allah will increase

    and become active in their calling with respectful conduct, not with intolerance and

    harshness. They should earnestly advise whoever Allah places in charge of affairs by any

    number of nice, peaceful means available. They should pray that Allah guides them, that

    He establishes and assists them in doing what is right and that Allah helps them leave

    their sins and establishes justice and truth.

    This is how a believer is, he calls upon Allah and humbles himself before Him, asking

    Him for guidance for the leader and that He helps them leave falsehood and establish the

    truth. He does so in a nice, gentle manner. He reminds them by preaching in a respectful

    way and not by strictness and harshness. In this way good will spread and evil will

    diminish and Allah will guide the authorities to that which is good and establish them

    upon it. The end result will then be beneficial for the whole society.6

    Inciting People to Oppose Governments by Announcing their Faults,

    Criticizing Them, and Demonstrating against Them

    6From the book: al-Malm min Wjib al-Alqah bayna al-kim wa al-Makm.

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    The eminent Imam, Abd al-Azz Ibn Bz may Allah have mercy on him was asked

    about some pamphlets published in London (from Muhammad al-Masar). The

    questioners stated they had heard of opinions from some scholars but they wanted a

    ruling specifically from [Ibn Bz] so they could be certain about the issue.

    Answer: As for those pamphlets and publications that al-Masar publishes and those

    with him in London to stir up doubt and confusion about this (Saudi Arabian) government

    and this land, we have already advised more than once that they should not be

    distributed or that they be destroyed when found. They result in tribulations, division, and

    discord. So they must be destroyed and not circulated among Muslims. Instead, people

    should pray for the leaders of political affairs for correctness, guidance, and uprightness.

    And (they should pray) that Allah assists them in everything good and that He removes

    their mistakes and bestows upon them righteous advisors. These supplications should be

    made in prayer and at other times; people should pray to their Lord while in prostration,

    after prayers, and in the last part of the night for correctness, guidance, righteousness,

    and for sincere advisors for all Muslims and the leaders.

    As for publicly announcing (a leaders) faults and criticizing him, this is a means to evil

    and tribulation. When the Khawrij began publicizing their criticisms during the leadership

    of Uthmn (Islams third caliph), their ignorance and injustice drove them to murder

    Uthmn and eventually to kill Alall because of the initial, detestable spreading of their

    criticisms. Whether (they put forth) lies, truth, or anything in between, that does not make

    it permissible to revolt against the leader of political affairs. Rather, it necessitates that

    one pray for their guidance and rectification.

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    These issues that al-Masar pursues and those like him, they are the same things that

    Abdullah Ibn Saba did and those like him during the times of Uthmn and Al, so much

    so that they disunited the Muslim nation, brought about tribulations, and both Uthmn

    and Al were killed unjustly along with a large number of companions.7

    And he (Ibn Bz) was asked:

    Question: Some people believe that a state of corruption has come over the Muslim

    communities to such an extent that it cannot be changed except by force and by inciting

    people against governments and publicly exposing their faults so that people oppose and

    reject them. Unfortunately, these people call others to this methodology, encouraging it.

    So, what does your eminence say?

    Answer: Such a methodology has no support from the Islamic legislation because it

    contradicts the texts that order obedience to the leaders of political affairs in what they

    command of good, and it results in great corruption, chaos, and the breaching of peace

    and security.

    When evil circumstances arise, it is incumbent to repel them by methods legislated by

    Islam and by clarifying these legislative evidences without harshness and intolerance.

    These circumstances are not to be repelled by force except by those who the

    government has appointed to do this (the authorities). This is so that peace and security

    is maintained and chaos is prevented. Authentic adth from the prophet (

    ) indicate this, such as the statement in which he ( :) said

    7Taken from a cassette titled: ukm al-amalt al-Ilmiyyah al Bild al-aramayn.

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    .

    Whoever sees something of sinning against Allah from his leader, let him dislike

    that which is sinful against Allah but let him not move even a hand-span away

    from (or renounce the allegiance of) obedience.

    And his ( :) statement

    .

    It is an obligation upon every person to listen and obey in what he likes or

    dislikes, willingly or unwillingly, as long as he is not commanded to do anything

    sinful against Allah.

    The companions ( ) pledged to the prophet ( ) that they would

    listen and obey, willingly or unwillingly, in hardship and ease, and that they would never

    renounce the allegiance of obedience, unless and until they see clear and explicit

    disbelief form them (the leaders) for which they have a supportive proof with Allah. And

    other adthwith the same meaning are numerous.

    What is legislated in such circumstances is to sincerely advice the leader of political

    affairs, cooperating with them in righteousness and praying for them for correctness and

    assistance in doing what is right until evil circumstances diminish and good prevails.

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    We ask Allah to rectify all Muslim leaders, to bestow on them righteous advisors, to

    increase them with those who support them in what is right, and to grant them success in

    governing His servants with the legislation of Allah; He is surely bountiful and generous.

    Imam Muammad Ibn lial-Uthaymnsaid:

    and it is amazing that he (Dhu al-Khuwayarah from whom the Khawrij descended)

    directly criticized the messenger ( ). He said to the prophet, Be fair! and

    The face of Allah was not sought by this distribution (of goods). He said this directly to

    the messenger (

    ). The messenger then replied:

    .

    There will emerge from this persons descendants those who one of you would

    belittle his own prayer in comparison to theirs.

    This is one of the greatest proofs that opposing and rebelling against the leader can be

    by the sword or by speech because this person (Dhu al-Khuwayarah) did not take out

    his sword against the messenger, yet he still opposed and criticized him. And what you

    find in some books written by the people of Sunnah about rebelling against the leader, it

    is often rebellion of the sword (with violence); by this, they mean the worst and final form

    of rebellion. Similarly, the prophet ( ,) mentioned that infidelity (adultery

    fornication) could be committed by the eye, the ear, the hand, or even the legs. But the

    greatest form of adultery is the actual act of fornication by the private parts. For this

    reason, he said that the private part may deny the other parts of this actual, final form. So

    when some scholars use wordings as these (rebellion, revolt), this is what they mean

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    (that it is of varying forms). We know for certain, especially considering the natural

    circumstances, that rebellion and opposition never occurs by the sword except that it was

    preceded by the tongue and speech. There must be something inciting them and it is

    surely someones talk.

    Therefore, opposition and rebellion against the rulers can be by speech as the Sunnah

    proves as well as the realities we witness. As for the Sunnah, we know about that (as has

    preceded) and as for what we witness, then we know for sure that rebellion by force is

    only an end result of rebelling by the tongue. This is because people do not just revolt

    against a leader all of a sudden by taking up arms; there must be some preliminary step,

    some force or prior defaming of the leaders and belittling of their good qualities. In this

    way, the hearts become filled with anger and hostility, and finally disaster and distress

    occurs.8

    The great scholar lial-Fawznwas asked:

    Question:Does rebelling and revolting against the leaders occur only by the sword (by

    force), or does criticizing and slandering them and inciting people to resistance and

    opposition against them also fall into this?

    Answer: We mentioned this to you before. We said that revolting against the leaders

    could be by the sword, and this is the worst form, and it could also be in speech: by

    insulting or reviling them. It could be in the form of speaking against them in private

    sittings or publicly upon the pulpits (in mosques during sermons). This provokes people

    8From a cassette titled: ukm al-amalt al-Ilmiyyah al Bild al-aramayn

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    and rouses them to rebel against those in charge of political affairs and it diminishes the

    very status of leadership among people. So speech is (a form of) rebellion.

    lial-Fawznalso said about the Khawrij:

    In our times, anyone who believes that listening to and obeying political leaders in what is

    not sinful is labeled a government agentor flatterer or simple-minded. You see some

    people (those who call to rebellion) stand upon the pulpits and in their gatherings

    slandering the leader of their affairs, vilifying them because of their faults while the

    messenger (

    ) says:

    .

    Whoever wants to advise a leader about something then he should not expose

    him publicly. Rather, he should take his hand and privately counsel him. If he

    accepts (his advice) from him then that (is beneficial), otherwise the person has

    then fulfilled his obligation.9

    If the political leader sees fit to silence one of them or prevent him from speaking publicly

    in gatherings, you then find them rallying together and marching in protests and

    demonstrations. They think, due to their ignorance, that when one of their people is

    silenced or imprisoned, rebellion if justified for them. Have they not heard the prophets

    statement ( ) in the adth of Awf Ibn Mlik al-Ashja ( )

    recorded by Muslim (no. 1855) (when asked if fighting the leaders is allowed):

    9 Recorded by Amad (3/404) from the adth of IyyIbn Ghanam ( ) and also recorded

    by Ibn Ab im in his book al-Sunnah(2/522).

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    .

    No, as long as they establish the prayer among you.

    And in the adth of Ubdah Ibn al-mit ( ( in a al-Bukhr and a

    Muslim:

    .

    Unless you all see clear, explicit disbelief (from them) for which you have a proof

    from Allah to support you in that.

    Those were some of his ( ) replies when the companions asked about the

    permissibility of fighting oppressive rulers.

    Do those people not know how long Imam Ahmad remained in prison? And where did the

    famous scholar of Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah, die? Did Imam Ahmad not spend many years in

    prison while being compelled to say the Quran was created? Why did he not then allow

    people to revolt against the caliph? And do they not know that Ibn Taymiyyah remained in

    prison until he died? Why did he not permit people to revolt against the leader while Ibn

    Taymiyyah was such a person of great virtue, knowledge and standing? What about

    those less than him?

    Certainly, these ideas and actions did not come to us except after the youth began taking

    their knowledge from so-and-so, the modern thinker; so-and-so, the eloquent poet;

    and from so-and-so, the Islamic writer. They took from these people while abandoning

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    the scholars and the books of the Salaf, throwing them behind their backs. There is no

    power or strength except by Allah.10

    Making Takfr of Whoever Does Not Absolutely Judge or Rule with Allahs

    Revelation

    Imam Abd al-Azz Ibn Bzmay Allah have mercy on himwas asked:

    Question:When is it considered disbelief that a ruler judges or rules by other than what

    Allah revealed, by other than His laws?

    Answer: [Such is the case] if such a person believes it is permissible to do so, or he

    believes it (Allahs revelation) is not applicable or appropriate, or if he considers ruling by

    something else to be better. The ruling is applied only to one who considers it something

    lawful to do or considers something else to be superior than the rules of Allah.

    As for the case of someone ruling by other than what Allah revealed and he does so just

    out of some personal whims or desires, then he is considered a sinner similar to the

    person who commits adultery or fornication out of his desires. A person may disobey his

    parents from some desire within himself or murder someone based on personal desires;

    in these cases he is a sinner. But if he kills considering it lawful, or disobeys his parents

    considering it lawful to be undutiful, or commits adultery believing it is permissible, then

    this is disbelief. In this principle, we distinguish and separate ourselves from the Khawrij.

    10Taken from a lecture delivered by li al-Fawzn in the King Fahd Mosque in city of Taif inAugust, 1994.

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    In this, there is a great difference between us and the Khawrij. Otherwise, we would fall

    into the same thing the Khawrij did. And it is this point that has confused the Khaw rij.

    And he (Ibn Bz) was asked on the same cassette:

    Question: Do you consider this issue to be simply one of personal, independent

    interpretation (Ijtihd)?

    Answer: By Allah, I firmly believe that, based on the texts from the people of knowledge

    about the difference between the people of Sunnah and the Khawrij and Mutazilah,

    especially the Khawrij, that committing a sin is not disbelief unless and until a person

    considers it lawful or defends the sin by fighting.11

    Imam Muammad Ibn lial-Uthaymnmay Allah have mercy on him was asked

    about someone who declares the Muslim rulers to be disbelievers.

    Answer:These people who declare others of disbelief are the inheritors of the Khaw rij

    who revolted against Al Ibn Ab lib( ). A disbeliever is only someone who

    Allah and His messenger declared to be so. Making Takfr has conditions, and from them

    is that the person (committing the sin) has knowledge of it and willingly does it. In other

    words, we must know that such a ruler contradicts the truth while fully aware of it and he

    willingly wants to do so12

    11Taken from a cassette debating the issue of Takfr.[The cassette was not named in the originalArabic text nor was the lecture date mentioned.]

    12Taken from the cassette: Kash al-Lithm an Amad Salm.

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    Making Takfr of the Ruler, Claiming He Has Abandoned and Terminated

    Jihd.

    lial-Fawznmay Allah preserve himwas asked:

    Question:There are some people who say that the political leaders and the scholars in

    these lands have abandoned and terminated Jihd and this issue amounts to disbelief in

    Allah, so what is your opinion of such speech?

    Answer: Such speech is ignorance. It shows that the person has neither insight nor

    knowledge and that he declares people to be disbelievers. This is the thought of the

    Khawrij and Mutazilah we ask Allah for correctness. Rather, we should not just

    suspect evil from them (the leaders). These people (who make such claims) are ignorant;

    they should learn something before they speak. As for those among them with some

    knowledge and he talks like this, this is the thought of the Khawrij and people of

    misguidance.13

    Bombings

    Muammad Ibn li al-Uthaymn said about the (1996 Khobar Towers) bombing

    incident at Khobar:

    No doubt, this act is not condoned by anyone with intellect, not to mention a believer,

    because it is in contradiction to the Book (the Quran) and the Sunnah, and because it

    13Taken from the book by lial-Fawzn, al-Jihd wa awbiuh al-Shariyyah, pg 49.

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    causes injury to Islam both inside the country and outsideAnd for this, such a crime is

    considered one of the most horrid crimes. Yet by the power of Allah, the oppressive

    criminals will not be successful. They will be found if Allah wills, and they will receive their

    due punishment. As for the students of (religious) knowledge, it is incumbent upon them

    to clarify to people that this is a filthy methodology, the methodology of the Khawrij.14

    Legitimizing the Murdering of Security Officers

    lial-Fawznmay Allah preserve himwas asked:

    Question:Some pamphlets are being distributed among many of the youth claiming it is

    permissible to kill security officers, especially secret detectives. These statements are

    supposedly taken from a ruling given by a student of knowledge claiming that security

    officers are considered apostates. So we hope from your Excellency that you will clarify

    the legislative Islamic ruling in this matter as well as the consequences resulting from

    such dangerous actions.

    Answer: This is the methodology of the Khawrij. The Khawrij murdered Al Ibn Ab

    lib( ,), the best of the companions after Ab Bakr, Umar, and Uthmn. So

    those who have the audacity to kill AlIbn Ab Tlib( ), would they not then kill

    security officers? This is exactly the Khawrij methodology. As for the one whoissues to

    them a religious verdict allowing this, he is just like them and one of them. We seek

    safety with Allah.15

    14Taken from the book by Fahd al-uayn, al-Fatw al-Shariyyah f al-Qay al-Ariyyah.

    15Taken from al-Fatw al-Shariyyah f al-Qay al-Ariyyah.

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    Their Claim that the Muslim Leader is Only He Whom All Muslims

    throughout the World, from the East to the West, Unite in Allegiance to Him

    lial-Fawznmay Allah preserve himwas asked:

    Question:Is it correct to say that the Muslim leader, the Imam, is only considered to be

    such if all Muslims throughout the entire world, from east to west, unite in allegiance to

    him?

    Answer:The Imam is he to whom the people of authority and policy from the Muslims

    pledge allegiance. Thereafter, the rest of the people must obey him. It is not a

    requirement that every single one of them from the east and west, men and women, each

    pledge allegiance to him. This is not the methodology of Islam in deciding leadership.

    And he (lial-Fawzn) was also asked:

    Question:Are there present today those who have the same ideologies of the Khawrij?

    Answer: ! All of this that is prevalent today, is it not from the actions of the

    Khawrij? Making Takfr of Muslims and even worse, killing fellow Muslims and hating

    them? This is the exact methodology of the Khawrij. It includes three things:

    1.Making Takfr of Muslims.

    2.Renouncing obedience to the leader or government.

    3.Declaring the blood of other Muslims lawful to spill.

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    This is precisely the methodology of the Khawrij. Even if a person only believes this with

    his heart, though he may not actually speak or do anything of them, he still becomes one

    of the Khawrij in his baseless belief and opinions.16

    16Taken from the book by Fahd al-uayn, al-Fatw al-Shariyyah f al-Qay al-Ariyyah.